Biden Faces Backlash Over Final $8 Billion Arms Package for Israel

The proposed deal, first reported by Axios, includes a significant cache of military hardware, ranging from fighter jet missiles and attack helicopter munitions to 155 mm artillery shells and kits designed to convert unguided ordnance into precision-guided weapons. For observers, the timing suggests a desperate effort by the outgoing administration to lock in support for Israel before Donald Trump assumes the presidency.

Josh Paul, a former State Department official who resigned over U.S. policy in Gaza, described the move as a final act of disregard for international law and Palestinian lives. He and Tariq Habash, a former Education Department official, contend that the administration is rushing the sale because it lacks confidence that the incoming team will maintain the same level of unchecked military backing. Sara Haghdoosti, executive director of Win Without War, warned that these weapons will likely be used to further devastate civilian infrastructure in a conflict that has already claimed at least 45,854 lives.

Despite pushback from progressive lawmakers like Senator Bernie Sanders, the broader political establishment remains committed to military aid. With the inauguration approaching, advocates argue this "bleak handoff" provides the incoming Trump administration—and hardline Israeli ministers—with the tools to continue aggressive policies, including the potential annexation of the West Bank and the permanent displacement of Gazans.